Any time an athlete gets to represent their country on an international stage, it is an honor and a privilege that rarely is taken for granted. For Edmonton Oil Kings defender Alofa “Noa” Ta’amu, this year’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup will be no different. Ta’amu has been selected to wear the stars and stripes and represent his home country in the summer U18 hockey tournament, following the path of recent Oil Kings to play in this tournament such as Blake Fiddler (USA), Adam Jecho (Czechia), and Jake Neighbours (Canada). 

Ta’amu is preparing for his 2nd full season in the WHL, and looking to improve on what was a shaky first year in The Kingdom. Ta’amu spent most of the year on the 3rd defensive pairing, adapting to the speed of the game and struggling to find any rhythm at the WHL level. The highly touted prospect was taken 3rd overall by the Oil Kings in the 2023 WHL US Prospect Draft, and has been given high expectations on what he can do. 

At 6 foot 1 and 210 lbs when he was drafted, as a not-quite 15 year old at that time, player metrics and scouting reports were through the roof on the type of player he could be if he could use that size to his advantage as a shut down defender. The 2022-23 Oil Kings season was a difficult one to watch after the departure of so many stars, but the drafting of a player like Ta’amu gave fans some hope for the future.

That future is now, and Ta’amu has the opportunity to put in work and make a name for himself on an international stage in Czechia and Slovakia over the next week. For the second straight year at the Hlinka Gretzky, an Edmonton Oil King will be counted on to anchor the blueline, as Blake Fiddler was a key piece of last year’s Team USA and used that international tournament to elevate his stock ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft where he was drafted early in the second round. Could Ta’amu use this opportunity to follow in Fiddler’s footsteps? What should Oil Kings fans be watching for from Noa in this year’s tournament? 

Depth Chart Position

Where Ta’amu finds himself on the depth chart will speak volumes to how his tournament, and potentially his sophomore WHL season, may or may not play out for him. Noa has reportedly put on an extra inch in height and another 10 pounds of body mass since his initial draft, and will enter this tournament as the biggest defender on Team USA and one of the largest players in the tournament overall. 

Having spent his CHL Rookie year as a 3rd pairing defensement, a step up to a Top 4 role and additional minutes would be a welcome challenge and a test I’m sure Oil Kings scouts and new coach Jason Smith will be monitoring closely. How would Noa respond to these added minutes, and what can he do in a best on best tournament with players from around the world?

As a 14 and 15 year old, Ta’amu had success on the scoresheet as well as on the back check. Now 17, the American team will be salivating at the possibility of him providing a shutdown defender with a potential for a one touch breakout pass to get their offense going early and often.

Different Voices for Different Opportunities

For the first time in his Junior career, Ta’amu will be exposed to some heavily experienced coaching voices in the USA Dressing Room. Assistant Coach Kevin Porter spent 3 years coaching for the Pittsburgh Penguins AHL affiliate in Wilkes-Baarre, and Assistant Coach Cody Chupp has been coaching in the USHL for more than 10 years. Head Coach Ben Syer has been an NCAA coach for more than 20 years, though this will be his first ever taste of international level hockey.

These are long time coaches, who have seen players of every level come and go, and who can give a different voice and see Noa through a different perspective. Perhaps he can learn some things that Luke Pierce and the Oil Kings staff never showed him, perhaps he can get some insight into a larger role and provide Jason Smith with some flexibility in how to deploy the defense this year, and perhaps he can come home to Edmonton with a Hlinka-Gretzky medal on his resume and some added confidence leading into Training Camp.

Draft Stock Improvement

If there is one thing that can be assured based on past Hlinka-Gretzky tournaments, it is that this tournament is a heavily scouted place to be and a great opportunity for players to put themselves high on NHL Teams radar. Last year's Team USA team from this tournament saw 9 different players selected in the 2025 NHL Draft, including both defensemen Blake Fiddler and Jacob Rombauch going in the 2nd round. Team Canada saw all but 3 members of their 2024 Hlinka Roster selected in the draft, Sweden has 18 players selected, Czechia had 6, and Slovakia, Finland, and Germany each had 3 players picked.

If ever there was a time to put in your best effort, this is that time. Make the scouts notice you, the more eyes on your game the better. Make teams want to come to Edmonton Oil King games this season, make them want to see more of your play, and give them a reason to think you can bring your game to the next level.

Junior players don't just get handed opportunities at the Pro Level, they need to prove that they can up their game to the higher compete level of more difficult hockey. They need to be able to rise to the challenge in a winner takes all tournament, and have that passion to win at all costs. Will Team USA win this tournament? Will Ta'amu be a determining factor in their success? Will he be able to bring that success back to Edmonton for the 2025-26 season?

Whatever the case may be, and whatever Ta’amu gains from this tournament, it should be viewed as a large accomplishment and a huge positive for his growth to see him get this opportunity. 

We wish Noa Ta’amu the best of luck in the Hlinka-Gretzky cup, and will be bringing you all the updates of his performance over the week as the tournament plays out.